The Phillies have agreed to sign Venezuelan center fielder Yhoswar Garcia, Baseball America’s Ben Badler reports (Twitter link). The Phils have been linked to Garcia for over a year, and are reportedly set to sign the 18-year-old to a bonus worth roughly $2.5MM.
Many of the top names in the 2019-20 international class were unofficially off the board since well before the signing window opened last July 2, though Garcia’s deal has only now been finalized because he only recently become eligible. As Badler explained in December, there was an age-related holdup since Garcia initially presented a birthdate that indicated he was a year younger than his actual age. The issue ended up being a delay rather than an obstacle, however, and Garcia will now join Philadelphia’s organization as planned.
Known as “The Drone,” Garcia backs up that MLB-ready nickname with “plus-plus speed in center field,” Badler writes. Garcia is 6’1″ and a relatively thin 155 pounds, though MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez figures Garcia to gain more weight as he gets older and subsequently adds power to some already-intriguing hitting ability. Garcia “shows good instincts and is a gap hitter,” according to Sanchez, who also feels Garcia has a lot of defensive promise as a center fielder with a good throwing arm.
coldbeer
Juan Pierre in 2020
DarkSide830
as a Phillies fan i shudder to hear of such a comparison. hoping for prime Pierre.
coldbeer
JP is one of the most underappreciated players in MLB history.
DarkSide830
i will give him some credit there, i never gave him enough having only seen him in Philly at the very end of his career. he really did put up crazy numbers in the years before though.
Jeff Zanghi
I don’t think he meant Juan Pierre actually in 2020… Pierre has been retired for years… he meant that this kid is the 2020 version is Juan Pierre (in his prime included…) a “2020 version” of Pierre would kind of be an impossible comparison to make seeing as he’s now a 40-something year old retired baseball player haha
DarkSide830
no i meant when he was in Philly in 2012. he was fairly washed up at that point.
mattblaze13
The next 5 tool guy? If so the first im hearing of him
Jeff Zanghi
Sounds like he may be closer to 4-tools as 155lbs definitely doesn’t seem to lend itself to much power. Granted he is only 18 and is apparently 6’1″ (though 6’1″ 155 doesn’t exactly seem even possible — you’d be a stick figure if you were really that tall and only weighed 155) but anyway maybe he will develop more power as he matures — but the current scouting reports seem to indicate he’s more of a gap hitter than power threat. From what I’ve read though he definitely sounds like an intriguing prospect – and someone who’s already advanced defensively for his age.
adamontheshore
I’m 6’2″ and weight 150 so it’s possible. We skinny guys get on fine too!
ClemFandango
Reminds me of a couple of days ago when I was looking at clothes online.One site mentioned that a model wearing an outfit was 6’2″ and wearing a size medium.I thought “How can he be 6’2″ and wear a medium?How large is that medium?”.The guy didn’t look that thin.
rb15
Aaron was 6’ 180 lbs. Let’s see how this kid looks in 2 years
PapiElf
What a name!
Rangers29
It sounds like I just read the prospect evaluation of Ranger’s prospect Leody Taveras.
jays_fan_mike
Yhoswar sounds like a new Baseball stat…
Eatdust666
Yes it does
Mrtwotone
Pretty solid pickup by the Phillies. With that speed and instinct he could be a potential gold glove caliber CFer
Captain Dunsel
His brother Alfredo was even better until he lost his head….
VonPurpleHayes
Great flick. Sweet reference.
Mishimacool
Is that you Mr. Garcia?
okiguess
Nothing some roids and PEDs can’t fix.
dynamite drop in monty
Shut up.
BillGiles
Carlos Tocci 2.0?
DarkSide830
gosh i hope not. Tocci really wasn’t even that good at his “strengths.” as much as this guy may have little power, any power would be more than Tocci had.
Peart of the game
Well, at least it’s not all bad news